The earliest attestation of Demeter is “Da-ma-te” in Linear-b (Google that for details).
As for a “consensus” of scholar.” Virtually all translators of the Hymn to Demeter blatantly mistranslate the Greek “orgia” (orgies) as “Mysteries.” See for example line 476 in the Hymn to Demeter.
About JWells
By profession, I have been a scientist in applied linguistics related to Computer Security for over 20 years. 80+ papers published. Five patents.
Working with Classical and Biblical Greek for over 35 years.
Working with Egyptian Coptic dialects for over 25 years.
I have produced and own the copyright on three complete editions of the New Testament.
One in the Egyptian Greek.
One in Sahidic Coptic.
One Bohairic Coptic.
My Sahidic-English Lexicon has also been published.
My main publisher is Logos Software.
I recently completer a new edition of Plato's Atlantis in the context of ancient Greek beliefs and understanding.
I am aware of the Linear A form of Demeter as “da-ma-te” but I still don’t see how you interpret it as “True mother” rather than “Earth mother”. As a matter of fact, it is argued that “da” is the Doric form for “Gè” (earth) as seems to be corroborated by a Mycenaean epithet of Poseidon. I agree however that some scholars, Chadwick among them, do challenge this interpretation.
Concerning my reference to a “consensus of scholars”, I understand and agree that it doesn’t necessary imply that the majority is always right. However, one needs strong arguments to go against the majority and that was the reason behind my question about your argumentation.
The above should obviously read “… the Linear *B* form of Demeter…” instead of Linear A. Apologies for this mistyping.
No problem